WITCH - The Queen

Chapter 33

Julia

The Queen. Drops of blood run down her forehead and cheeks. Poison. Sirens playing in the water. Fire. The queen searches for Julia with visions. She wants Julia by her side when she rules the world. Julia as the Queen's weapon. Julia stands in her mother's way. An army of races. The fairy forest is in flames. Screaming harpies. Angry dragons. Grieving vampires. The queen laughs. An uprising. Rebels who join Julia. Fritz. Elves and werewolves. Blood. Poison. The queen dances. A woman with golden wings surrounded by clouds and light. Julia with a dazzling crown in her hair. Her father collapses in his armchair in front of the fireplace.

Julia blinked. Finn and Josefine were already awake. She heard them talking to each other in the main room. Lazily, she climbed out of her bed and stretched. She had a vision again. And there was the strange dream in which she had encountered harpies too. It made her nervous.

What did these visions mean? Was it time to leave?

At breakfast, Julia listened to her family's conversations, but she herself remained silent until the meal was finished and the dishes were done. Finn wanted to continue sewing on an order and asked if Julia would help him.

"No. Sorry. I need to talk to Finja", she replied quietly.

"With Finja? Why?", asks Finn, confused. "Did something happen?"

"Not yet..." She kissed his cheek. "I'll help you when I'm back, ok?"

"Sure. See you later..." Finn watched her as she made her way to the centaure.

Finja was more than surprised when she saw Julia. "Can I help you, my dear?", she asked after inviting the young witch into her tent. Julia nodded.

"Yes. I need advice."

"Advice?" Finja frowned. "About what?"

"In case of a problem. And with the future." Julia sighed. "I don't know what to do. And so I thought I'd ask a leader."

"That sounds ominous. What happened?" The elderly lady scratched restlessly with her hooves.

The two sat down on soft pillows and Finja handed her a few sweet berries, which Julia gladly accepted. "I had a strange dream and a vision. I think I will leave soon. My mother needs to be stopped and I am convinced that this is exactly what the visions are about. They are a demand. But I can't stand in her way alone. In my vision, I saw an army. Centaurs were among them."

"And you'd like to know if we'd join you in battle? Because your magic asks you to? It sounds like magic is a person of its own..." Finja grinned. "So you want to ask me to join your project?"

"Yes. And no." Julia ruffled her hair. "I don't want to lead an army. I don't want to go to war against my mother. But as it stands, this is my future. Fiete said I would one day be a queen. And then there was this harpy. A ghost? I don't know. I met her in a dream and she also called me a queen."

Flordelis touched Julia's shoulder and smiled sympathetically. "I will not send my people to war, dear. But the Pale Redbacks were thrilled with you and they have a vested interest in defending our country against invaders. Maybe they will help you. As long as my people are not threatened by a foreign queen, I will not lead them into battle."

Julia nodded. "I understand that. But my mother threatens us all. It is already happening. If she is not stopped, she will try to take over this country. She craves power."

"And you don't?" The question was provocative and made Julia blink. She shook her head in surprise. Finja nodded. "I will not expose my people to any danger that may never reach us. All you can give me are your words, child. Words are not enough. Not for such a difficult decision. So you feel like you have to leave?"